COMMUNICATION IN A

MULTICULTURAL SETTING
KEY CONCEPTS
OUTSOURCED CULTURE SHOCK (2014). RETRIEVED FROM
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?
V=HGKCKVNK_ZI&AB_CHANNEL=SIMBAWONWON
 SCENES IN THIS VIDEO CLIP
1. Mr. Todd’s arrival (a case of his transportation)
2. Peeing/Urinating in Public (plus the pronunciation of Mr. Todd’s name)
3. Mr. Todd eating (with the locals)
4. Wandering cow (in the call center)
5. A boy asking for some coins
6. In a public toilet
7. In a fast food
8. Feast of Holi
 CULTURE AND CO-CULTURE
CULTURE
- System of knowledge, beliefs,
values, customs, behaviors, and
artifacts that are acquired,
showcase
shared, and used by its
members in daily living
- The way of life of a particular
society or a group of people
CO-CULTURE
- Groups of persons/people who
differ in some ethnic or
sociological way from their
parent culture
identity
- Co-culture groups use either
accommodation, assimilation,
or separation to interact or
establish relationships w/ those
in the dominant culture
 CULTURAL DIVERSITY
 1Cultural diversity is the existence of a variety of
cultural groups within a society. The diversity ranges
from ethnicity, race, religion, language, values,
traditions, beliefs, behaviors , rules of conduct, etc.

People can have better interpersonal dialogue and

communicate more on a personal level when they know
about the different cultural backgrounds of others (Shah,
2017).
INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
The process of interpreting and
sharing meanings with individuals
from different cultures
 FOUR FORMS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

 INTRACULTURAL  INTERRACIAL  INTERNATIONAL INTERETHNIC

Interaction among Communication Interaction Communication

members of the with/among between persons with/among
same racial, ethnic, individuals of representing individuals of
or other co-culture different races different different ethnic
groups nations /political origins
structures
VIEWING OTHER PEOPLE’S CULTURE

CULTURAL ETHNOCENTRISM
RELATIVISM
One’s - The tendency to
- Acceptance views see one’s
about other
of other people’s
culture as
cultural groups culture superior
as equal in value to all others
to one’s own
 STRATEGIES USED by CO-CULTURE GROUPS to INTERACT w/ THOSE in the
DOMINANT CULTURE

 ACCOMMODATION ASSIMILATION  SEPARATION 

The means by which co-culture The means by which co- The means by
members maintain their cultural culture members attempt which co-culture
identity while striving to establish to fit in (or join) with member use to
relationships with members of the members of the resist interacting
dominant culture – they may take on dominant culture – they with members of
values and beliefs, practices of the give up their own ways the dominant
host culture and accommodate them in in an effort to assume culture
the public sphere, while maintaining the modes of behavior of  
the parent culture in the private sphere. the dominant culture.
 FOUR VARIABLES TO DISTINGUISH CULTURES

Individualism vs. Reveals how people define themselves in their

Collectivism relationship with others

High Context vs. Low Reveals communication style or contextual

Context differences

High Power Distance Measures willingness to accept power differences

vs. Low Power
Distance
Reveals attitudes towards gender roles;
Masculine vs. The value placed by members on something, e.g.
Feminine material possession
 COLLECTIVISM INDIVIDUALISM
Group goals are stressed Individual goals are stressed
Emphasis on “We” Emphasis on “I”
The individual is expected to fit in Emphasizes in developing a sense of
groups self

Nurture group influence Individual initiative & achievement

E.g. Arab, African, Asian & Latin E.g. Great Britain, United States,
American Canada, France, & Germany
 HIGH CONTEXT
- Polite & indirect in relating to others
- Indirect and implicit messages
 
- Less verbal communication
- Relies on nonverbal signs such as facial
expression, gestures, tone of voice, and body
language
- Polychronic (completing activities
simultaneously)
- Use intuition and feelings to make decisions
- Collectivist (Cultural traditions shape the
behavior and lifestyle of group members)
E.g. Saudi Arabia, China, Mexico, Japan, and Mid. E.g. UK, the US, Germany, and
East
LOW CONTEXT
- Generally exhibit a more direct
communication style
- Direct, simple, and clear messages
- More verbal communication
- Less nonverbal communication
 
- Monochronic (scheduling and completing
one activity at a time)
- Rely on facts and evidence to make
decisions
- Individualist
Switzerland
 HIGH POWER DISTANCE LOW POWER DISTANCE
- Views power as a fact of life - Views power should be used only when
- Superiors & subordinates are legitimate
likely to view each other - Superiors & subordinates emphasize their
differently (acceptance of a interdependence by displaying preference
hierarchy) for consultation (equalizing the distribution
of power)
- Subordinates are quick to - Subordinates will even contradict their
defer (submit) to superiors bosses whenever necessary

E.g. Saudi Arabia, India, E.g. Israel, Sweden, and the United States
Malaysia
 MASCULINE FEMININE

- Members value (male) - Members value relationships, care

aggressiveness or assertiveness, for others, tenderness in members of
strength, and material symbols of both sexes, and a high quality of life
success (e.g. money)

- The society at large is more - The society at large is more

competitive - win-lose conflict consensus oriented – win-win
strategy solutions
E.g. Japan, Italy, Germany Mexico & E.g. Sweden, Norway, Netherlands,
Great Britain Thailand, Chile
 INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE
Intercultural competence is generally the
ability to communicate and behave in
appropriate ways with those who are
culturally different—and to co-create shared
spaces, teams, and organizations that are
inclusive, effective, innovative, and satisfying.
 STOP AND THINK.
Go back to the video clip on Outsourced, and think about
the answer to these questions:
1. What form (or forms?) of intercultural communication is
(are?)shown in this clip? Why?
2. In scene number 3 (Mr. Todd in a certain home eating),
which of the following strategy is depicted -
accommodation, assimilation, or separation? Why?
3. What cultural differences are shown in this clip?
STOP AND THINK.
Read the scenario on the next slide. Be ready to share your
answers during the synchronous session.
1. Who has the dominant culture?
2. Which form of intercultural communication will likely
occur in this situation?
3. Which strategy in interacting with those in the dominant
culture will the Filipino (the You) likely use?
4. Which variable to distinguish culture, in terms of
communication style, do Filipinos largely exhibit?
SCENARIO
You work in a Philippine-based branch of an
international company whose employees are still
mostly Filipinos. Your work space happens to be in
between two foreigners whose hygiene practices may
not seem to include taking a shower on a daily basis
or at least often. Lately, the smell from these
individuals has become annoying as it distracts you
from concentrating on your work.
I spent about eight years in Kenya, where people freely
picked their noses. They’d look you right in the eye
while having a conversation, digging for nose gold.
Though I’d known about this trait even before
deciding to work there, I was initially offended the
first time I saw it. However, I slowly learned to love
the freedom of it, that the act became so natural. I’d
even do it without regard anytime and anywhere.
When I got back to the States, however, I was almost
kicked out of a meeting when I was caught pulling bats
out of the cave.
SMALL GROUP TASK
 GROUP 1
Go back to the video clip on Outsourced Culture Shock.
What
Source for the term ‘cultural diversity’:

1. What is cultural diversity (n.d.

). Retrieved from https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/cultural-diversity/abo
ut/what-is-cultural-diversity/